MSC Cruises gets an epic leap in communications

Mediterranean Shipping Co’s (MSC) cruise ships have received a significant boost in satellite communications capacity through the onboard VSAT systems. MSC Cruises is using Intelsat’s high throughput satellite technology to raise the broadband capacity available to passengers aboard MSC Divina.

Its service provider Marlink has acquired capacity on the first Intelsat EpicNG satellite to offer high throughput spot beams to the ship. This will also be available for all of MSC Cruises’ 12 existing ships if they sail within these spot beams. Outside these beams, Marlink will provide MSC’s cruise ships with widebeam C-band and Ku-band services.

Marlink will use Intelsat’s global mobility network of various VSAT beams from nine satellites. It will use Ku-band spot beams from Intelsat 29e, the first of the Intelsat EpicNG fleet, and Intelsat 33e, once it enters service in the second half of this year. The agreement with Intelsat enables Marlink to supplement its existing maritime VSAT services with Sealink Cloud Services to MSC Cruises. The shipowner will be able to deliver high speed, reliable and affordable connectivity packages to passengers and crew members anywhere the cruise ships travel.

Marlink will also leverage the IntelsatOne terrestrial network, specifically teleports located in the US, Germany and South Korea. “With Intelsat, we are providing a scalable and robust solution to MSC Cruises, delivering on high volume broadband demands across many ships operating in high-traffic regions,” said Marlink maritime president Tore Morten Olsen.

“The high performing, resilient and secure network will enable our customer to further streamline vessel operations, deliver superior services to its crew and most importantly, keep thousands of passengers on each of their ships connected at all times.”

Marlink has recently expanded VSAT services for Stena Line.